Roof ridge vent with sealant

ABSTRACT

A ridge vent for covering an open ridge of a roof comprises an elongated panel with two opposed lateral edges; a pair of elongated sidewalls extending downward from one of the lateral edges; a pair of elongated floor portions each extending outward from one of the sidewalls, each floor portion having an underside; and a sealant on the underside of at least a part of each floor portion to improve the seal between the floor portions and the roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a ventilation system for covering an opening along the ridge of a roof. More specifically, this invention relates to a roof ridge vent assembly including vent panels placed end-to-end over the ridge of a roof to allow for ventilation of air through the ridge.

2. Description of the Related Art

Roof ridge ventilators are commonly installed over an opening along the length of a building at the ridge of the roof in order to reduce the heat that builds up in the space below the roof or in the attic. Ridge ventilators allow naturally rising hot air to escape the attic through an elongated ridgeline opening within the roof decking. The elongated ridgeline opening is typically formed by making two elongated cuts in the roof deck, each cut substantially parallel to the ridge, the cuts being on opposite sides of the ridge. Generally, ventilation helps to prevent degradation of the roof structure, and reduces the accumulation of condensation in the insulating material covering the floor of the attic. Additionally, ridge ventilators increase the efficiency of cooling the building covered by the roof, and accordingly reduce the cooling costs and other problems associated with such heat. In particular, ridge ventilators can assist in the expulsion of hot gases that are produced in living areas of the building (e.g., from dishwashers, heaters and other household appliances), rise and permeate through the ceiling and insulation material into the attic space. In addition, ridge vent systems are installed to meet net free vent area (NFVA) requirements included in building codes. Ridge vent systems also desirably prevent rain, snow, insects, vermin and other debris from entering through the opening along the ridge, while providing for the free flow of air to and from the interior of the building.

Early ridge vents included corrugated covers attached to the roof over the ridge opening, with traditional ridge cap shingling secured over the covers. However, this construction can be costly and not easily adaptable to accommodate various roof pitches. Moreover, the earlier ridge vents typically were not durable and did not allow adequate air flow. The most common recent designs include molded plastic vent sections attached to the roof end-to-end to span the entire opening along the ridge. The vent sections are typically plastic center panels flanked along either edge with a row of ventilation slots. The plastic center panels are typically laterally flexible to conform to the apex of particular roofs with various pitches. The plastic center panel is also typically held a short distance above the roof by support structures that define a space between the panels and the roof. After the ridge vents are installed, a ridge cap shingling is fixed over the top surface of the ridge vent sections, using well-known shingles such as asphalt composition shingles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a ridge vent covers an opening at a ridge of a roof. The ridge vent includes an elongated panel with two opposed lateral edges. The ridge vent also includes a pair of elongated sidewalls each extending downward from one of the lateral edges. The ridge vent also includes a pair of elongated floor portions each extending outward from one of the sidewalls, each floor portion having an underside. The ridge vent also includes a sealant on the underside of at least a part of each floor portion to improve the seal between the floor portions and the roof.

According to another embodiment, a ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end over an open ridge of a roof. Each of the ridge vent sections has a laterally flexible panel having two opposed lateral edges and two opposed ends. Each of the ridge vent sections also has a pair of sidewalls extending downward from each respective lateral edge. Each of the ridge vent sections also has a pair of sidewalls extending downward from each respective lateral edge. Each of the ridge vent sections also has a pair of floor portions extending outward from each respective sidewall, each floor portion having an underside. Each of the ridge vent sections also has a pair of baffles extending upward from each respective floor portion. Each of the ridge vent sections also has a weather strip on an underside of each floor portion to improve the seal between the floor portions and the roof.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described above and as further described below. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ridge vent section according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the ridge vent section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ridge vent section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one lateral edge of the ridge vent section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one lateral edge of a ridge vent section according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is an end view of one end of a ridge vent section according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a cross sectional view of a ridge vent section according to the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a ridge vent section according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a ridge vent section according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of a ridge vent section according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a sealant according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a simplified end view of one end of a ridge vent section according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While modern ridge vent systems are an improvement over early ridge vents, there are still many shortcomings inherent in their designs. One problem of the prior art is that since the individual vent sections that form the long ridge ventilation system are simply nailed to the roof one at a time from the top of the ridge vent, a perfect seal is not guaranteed between the bottom of the sides of the vent sections and the surface of the roof along the entire ridge. Moreover, the ridge vent is typically nailed over a roofing material (e.g., composition shingles) which lies over plywood sheathing. Many roofing materials have a rough and/or uneven surface involving different heights along the top surface of the roof. Even roofing materials with flatter surfaces may be covered by granules or other materials that give a granulated texture. Accordingly, the textured or granulated surfaces of the roofing materials present the problem of gaps between the roof surface and the bottom attachment surface of the ridge vent after the vent sections are nailed over the ridge.

A ridge vent section is typically provided immediately above the uneven surface of the roofing material, without a sealant therebetween. The lack of a seal between the ridge vent and the roof is undesirable because it permits leakage caused, for example, by wind-driven rain or snow.

Thus, there is a need for an improved ridge vent system that addresses and solves the problems associated with current systems. It is desirable for such an improved system to eliminate the leakage of water, wind, debris and insects between the edges of the vent sections and the roof and to further improve the shingling of ridge caps over the entire roof ridge.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a ridge vent section that can be joined end-to-end with like sections to span the entire length of an open ridge 28 of a roof 30, according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an elongated vent section 10 (referred to generally herein as a “ridge vent 10”) according to an embodiment of the invention is shown to have a first end 18, an opposite second end 20, a topside 22 and an underside 24 facing the open ridge. Ridge vent 10 comprises a central panel portion 12, a first lateral edge 14 and a second lateral edge 16 opposed to the first, spanning the longitudinal length of the ridge vent 10. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of underside 24 and FIG. 3 shows the corresponding plan view of topside 22 of ridge vent 10.

Ridge vent 10 can vary in thickness and width as desired, but preferably, the central panel portion 12 is sufficiently thin and laterally flexible across its width in order to bend over the apex of the ridge 28. In some embodiments the flexible central portion may be slightly thinner in thickness than the rest of vent section to allow lateral flexing of the central portion over the apex of a roof to accommodate various roof pitches. In other embodiments, the ridge vent 10 can be integrally scored (not illustrated) to assist in further flexing, in a single line or several lines running longitudinally along the entire length of the center panel portion 12 or any portion thereof.

Ridge vent 10 may be formed from a single sheet of flexible plastic or the like to a predetermined length and width. According to one embodiment, each ridge vent 10 is approximately 4 feet in length along lateral edges 14 and 16, and approximately one to one and a half feet in width along end portions 18 and 20. Although ridge vent 10 may be of any suitable length and width, the above dimensions are preferred in order to accommodate a variety of building sizes and for convenience of use, assembly and manufacture.

Ridge vent 10 is preferably injection-molded as a single piece of plastic from polymeric materials well known in the art, including but not limited to, for example, high-density linear polymers such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and copolymers thereof. Recycled polymeric materials can also be used. Ridge vent 10 may also be formed by any of the above along with U.V. inhibitors to resist degradation from ultraviolet radiation exposure. A suitable material for the U.V. inhibitor would be carbon black or a U.V. stabilizer as readily available to those skilled in the art. The ridge vent 10 material is chosen based on its cost, ease of manufacture and effective resistance to warping and wear due to weather.

Building roof 30 may comprise a plurality of cross-beams or rafters 32 joined to form the structural support for building roof 30, with decking panels 34 laid over in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The plurality of decking panels 34 is typically referred to as a roof deck (also referred to herein by reference numeral 34). Skilled artisans will recognize that a roof deck can be formed of materials other than wood, such as steel. While the illustrated embodiment shows a roof deck comprising two layers of panels 34, it will be understood that the roof deck can alternatively be formed with only one layer of panels 34, or with more than two such layers. The decking panels 34 are covered with a layer of cover elements, such as shingles or a composition roofing material 36 nailed to decking panels 34 using well-known roofing nails (not shown). The decking panels 34 and the overlying shingles or composition roofing material 36 do not completely cover the roof 30, except for at the very ends of the ridge. Between the ends, an elongated ridgeline opening is cut out of the roof deck 34. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of the ridgeline where there is an opening between decking panels 34, and is not representative of the very ends of the ridge that can be viewed from the sides of the building. While the gap at the ridge 28 provides for increased ventilation of the attic space, it needs to be covered to prevent rain, snow, insects, vermin and debris from entering the attic space. The ridge vent 10 is consequently fixed in end-to-end fashion with like ridge vents to cover the gap in the ridge 28, and the combined ridge vents at least partially overlap the decking panels 34 and composition roofing material 36 of roof 30.

According to other embodiments, the ridge vent 10 may be installed over roofs without a deck or decking panels. As known in the art, in place of a deck such a roof can include a row of parallel rafters arranged perpendicular to the ridge of the roof, and a row of counter battens overlying and perpendicular to the rafters. Shingles, tiles or slates as known in the art can then be secured over the battens to form the exterior surface of the roof. The ridge vent 10 may be installed over the uppermost shingles at the peak of the roof.

Nail lines 40 and 42 and a plurality of nail holes 38 running parallel to edges 14 and 16 are formed along a topside 22 of the ridge vent 10 for facilitating installation. A plurality of nails (not shown) are respectively inserted through nail holes 38 molded into the central panel 12 in intervals along the longitudinal length of ridge vent 10 for securing the vent 10 to the roof. The nails are then pounded into the underlying decking panels 34 using a hammer or the like to secure each ridge vent 10 to the roof 30. A plurality of ridge cap or ‘capping’ shingles 44 can then be placed over the ridge vent 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and roofing nails 46 can be inserted through ridge cap shingles 44 along the nail lines 40, 42. The capping shingles 44 secured over the ridge vent 10 are shown to extend slightly past the lateral edges 14 and 16 to prevent water that cascades over the lateral edges of the capping shingles 44 from dropping through the vent slots 54 (described below).

When attached to a roof, the central panel 12 is held a predetermined distance above the roof by end caps that extend from the underside 24 of the panel 12 at opposite ends 18 and 20 of ridge vent 10. Referring to FIG. 2, which shows a plan view of the underside 24, end cap 25 extends integrally from the underside 24 across the first end 18, and end cap 26 extends across the second end 20 of ridge vent 10. The end caps 25, 26 may be aligned so that extending portions 25 of one end are aligned with receiving portions 26 of another end of a like ridge vent, and the end caps of adjacent ridge vents may engage each other to secure all the ridge vent sections together. Although the end caps are shown to have semicircular portions, other configurations can be used to facilitate the interlocking of adjacent ends, as known to one skilled in the art.

FIGS. 2-3 also show an interlocking flange 27 according to an embodiment, extending from the first end 18 of ridge vent 10 adjacent to end cap 25, to be received by a receiving portion 29 at the second end 20 adjacent to end cap 26 of an adjacent ridge vent 10. The profile of interlocking flange 27 is also shown in FIG. 4, which shows a side view of a lateral edge 14 of ridge vent 10. The interlocking flange 27 and receiving portion 29 of adjacent vent sections also preferably lock to each other as described above in end-to-end fashion along the ridge of a roof and thereby help prevent wind, rain, insects, vermin, debris, etc., from entering the open ridge of the roof between adjacent ends of each vent section. It should be understood that various other configurations of alignment and interlocking between adjacent ends of ridge vents could be used while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, ridge vent 10 also includes first 48 and second 50 sidewall portions respectively extending generally downwardly from the lateral edges 14 and 16. Sidewalls 48 and 50 further include a ventilation row formed by a plurality of vent strips 52 defining a plurality of ventilation openings 54 (e.g., slots, as in the illustrated embodiment). The vent strips 52 essentially comprise portions of the sidewalls 48, 50 between the vent slots 54. As shown, the row of ventilation strips 52 runs horizontally through the entire length of ridge vent 10 in order to allow air from the attic to freely flow to the outdoor environment, while preventing ingress of certain insects, vermin and debris into the attic space. According to an embodiment, the width of each vent slot between adjacent strips is about ¼″, and the width of each vent strip is about 1/16″. However, the number and dimension of the vent strips 52 and vent slots 54 may vary. Moreover, a ventilation row of open slots may be formed only along one edge of the central panel if desired to accommodate other types of roofs such as hip roofs. Ventilation openings other than downwardly extending slots may also be used so long as the aggregate area of the openings is sufficient to provide a desired flow of air from beneath the central panel 12.

Adjacent to the bases of the sidewalls 48 and 50 respectively are floor portions 55 and 57 that form floors of drain portions or “troughs” 56 and 58 on opposite sides of central panel 12 and which run along the entire length of ridge vent 10. As shown in FIG. 1, drain troughs 56 and 58 rest on the composition roofing material 36 of roof 30 to capture rainwater that flows down upon capping shingles 44 covering the central panel 12. Drain troughs 56 and 58 preferably have a narrow flat floor extending between the bottom of sidewalls 48, 50 and the bottom of wind baffle portions 62, 64, described further below. As shown in the end view of FIG. 6A, drain troughs 56 and 58 are flat and coplanar with the bottom surface of end cap 25 at end 18, when ridge vent 10 is not installed over a roof as shown. The flat floor at the troughs 56, 58 adds stability and provides a secure base upon which the ridge vent section rests when attached to a roof.

The water collected in the troughs 56, 58 is allowed to drain away through drain openings 60, or weep holes, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which respectively show side views at lateral edge 14 for two different embodiments. According to an embodiment, the drain openings 60 are formed along the lower end of wind baffles 62, 64. The size, spacing, number and positioning of the drain openings 60 can vary, so long as the desired draining is provided. According to the embodiment of FIG. 4, drain openings 60 are each sized about 3/16 inch by about ⅜ inch and spaced apart about 1⅜ inches from each other end to end, or 2 inches center to center, so that 24 drain holes in total span the length of a 4 feet ridge vent section 10. However, ridge vent 10 can have twice as many drain openings (e.g., 48) according to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5. While various shapes may be used, the drain openings 60 are preferably rectangular in shape. The drain openings 60 prevent water from collecting in the troughs 56, 58, and guide water, snow and other precipitation away from the open ridge 28 of roof 30 and away from internal portions of the ridge vent 10 to prevent water or moisture from collecting between ridge vent 10 and the underlying composition material.

As shown in the bottom and top views of FIGS. 2-3, wind baffles 62 and 64 preferably run longitudinally and parallel to sidewalls 48, 50 along the entire length of ridge vent 10. Although wind baffles 62, 64 block some windblown rain from entering vent slots 54, high winds can significantly drive water through the drain openings 60, through vent slots 54 and into the open ridge 28. Consequently, embodiments can include an upstanding barrier positioned behind the drain openings 60 on the floor portions 55, 57 of drain portions 56, 58, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,963 to Headrick, to prevent water from drain portions 56, 58 from entering the open ridge.

According to an embodiment, barriers to prevent water from entering through drain openings 60 can be provided by closing off a number of vent slots 54. As shown in FIG. 7A, the regions 90 that are closed off between open vent slots 54 are aligned with drain openings 60. According to another embodiment, barriers may be provided by closing off lower portions of the open vent slots 54 that are aligned with drain openings 60. As shown in FIG. 7B, closing off lower portions of vent slots 54 aligned with drain openings 60 would form partially open vent slots or ‘windows’ 92, that do not extend to the bottom of sidewall 48. As a result, barriers against wind-driven water through drain openings 60 would be provided in the areas below ‘windows’ 92 while ventilation is maintained through the open slots of 92. According to another embodiment, barriers may be provided by closing off all the lower portions of open vent slots 54 so that they extend uniformly to a distance above the bottom of sidewall 48, and all provide smaller ‘windows’ 94, as shown in FIG. 7B. However, a skilled artisan could appreciate that many other variations and designs are possible.

Wind baffles 62 and 64 have been found to generate relatively low pressure regions over the vent slots 54 inside troughs 56, 58, when even gentle breezes blow across a roof. As the external wind hits the vertical walls of wind baffles 62 and 64, it is deflected upward towards the peak of the roof and the ‘Bernoulli effect’ is thereby induced. That is, as the wind passes over the vent slots 54, areas of lower pressure are created in the troughs and the lower pressure regions draw air out from the attic through the vent slots 54. Wind baffles 62 and 64 thus significantly enhance the air flow through the open ridge 28 of the roof 30 to improve ventilation of the attic.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, baffles 62 and 64 may have outwardly extending flanges or lips 66 and 68 to divert air and facilitate further deflection of wind. Accordingly, the extending lips 66 and 68 improve the Bernoulli effect by further disrupting the flow of air to create an even lower pressure in the troughs 56, 58, which improves the ventilation. The extending lips 66 and 68 also help disrupt wind-driven rain or snow and further resist weather infiltration of the attic space. The extending lips 66, 68 are generally angled outwardly and upwardly from the upper edge of the wind baffles 62, 64. The lips 66, 68 can be variously angled from the plane of the baffles 62, 64, and is as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6B to be about 45 degrees.

As shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 6B, ridge vent 10 can also include a support grate 80 that extends a first length from sidewall 50 towards the center of panel 18 along its underside 24. Ridge vent 10 can also include a support grate 81 that extends another length as shown, for example, by the distance between sidewall 48 and the dotted line in FIG. 6B extending downward from the underside 24 of panel 18. Grates 80 and 81 can be interspersed along the underside 24 of ridge vent 10 to provide substantially evenly distributed support from collapsing or bending of ridge vent 10 over a roof when a load or weight is set over the ridge vent 10, before, during or after installation. As used herein, grates 80, 81 are rigidifying structures, e.g., they add rigidity to the panel 18. In some embodiments, the grates 80, 81 contact and/or transfer loads onto the roof, while in other embodiments the grates 80, 81 do not transfer loads onto the roof and do not contact the roof (e.g., the grates terminate above the roof with a gap therebetween, which may in many cases improve ventilation). One example of a grate is a strengthening rib. However, a skilled artisan could appreciate that other types of rigidifying structures can also be included.

It is also noted that an optional screen or filter may be positioned below the underside 24 of ridge vent 10, and extending to each of the inner surfaces of sidewalls 48, 50, to provide additional protection against snow, rain, insects, vermin and the like from entering the building. Although the filter can be made of many materials, it is preferably porous enough to enable sufficient air to flow from the attic to the outside ambient. The screen or filter material may be a wire mesh, fiberglass material, foam, sponge, and the like. The screen or filter may also comprise several different portions adhesively fixed to the ridge vent 10 at one or more locations along the underside 24 of ridge vent 10 to form a single combined unit. Alternatively, the screen or filter can be provided separately and secured between the central panel portion 12 of the ridge vent 10 and the roof 30 during installation by being simultaneously nailed to the decking panels 34.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the ridge vent 10 includes a sealing portion such as a weather strip, sealant, adhesive, or other similar barrier 72, 74 (hereinafter referred to as “weather strip”) fixed to the undersides of at least a part of the drain troughs 56 and 58. The weather strip 72, 74 may be fixed to the undersides continuously or intermittently from one end of the vent to the other. As shown in FIG. 2, weather strip 72, 74 extends along the entire length of ridge vent 10. Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, weather strip 72, 74 extends from the underside of each sidewall 48, 50 toward the respective underside of each wind baffle 62, 64.

Weather strip 72, 74 may have a uniform thickness along the underside of the trough 56, 58. According to embodiments of the invention, the thickness of the uniform weather strip 72, 74 can be in the range of about 1/16 inch to about 2 inches at the underside of trough 56, 58. Alternatively, the thickness of the weather strip 72, 74 can vary along the width thereof, and need not be uniform across the underside of troughs 56 and 58. For example, the thickness of the weather strip 72, 74 may vary from a first edge on the underside of the sidewall 48, 50, or any location on the underside of the trough 56, 58, to a second edge on the underside of the baffle 62, 64, or any location on the underside of the trough 56, 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the strip 72, 74 is shown to increase from its inner edge to its outer edge. According to embodiments of the invention, the thickness at the larger edge at the underside of the baffle 62, 64 can be in the range of about 1/16 inch to about 2 inches.

The weather strip 72, 74 can be made of various sealing materials, including but not limited to high-density foams and sponges made of polyvinyl chloride, EPDM rubber, silicon, neoprene, vinyl, urethane, latex, neoprene, polyurethane or a combination of materials. However, weather strip 72, 74 is preferably elastic enough to sealingly conform to a plurality of different heights and profiles along the length of ridge vent 10 to ensure a tight seal between the lateral edges of ridge vent 10 and the underlying shingles or composition roof material. For example, the weather strip 72, 74 preferably can be compressed to at least about 30% or, more preferably, to at least about 50%. The weather strip 72, 74 also preferably is resistant to most chemicals, acids and solvents as well as weather elements.

According to an embodiment, the weather strip 72, 74 is adhered to the underside of the trough 56, 58 with a heat treatment such as, for example, a heat-stake machine. Other heat treatments include the use of, for example, a glue gun for applying various hot thermoplastics between the weather strip 72, 74 and the underside of the trough 56, 58, which can then be allowed to harden as they cool. Alternatively, the weather strip 72, 74 may be adhered to ridge vent 10 by using various commercial adhesives or other similar means (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesives; contact adhesives; laminates; synthetic adhesives, etc.) prior to installation on the roof.

According to an embodiment, the weather strip 72, 74 itself may be a single or double sided tape made of foam or other appropriate conformable material (e.g., such as among those listed above) that can be adhered easily with simple application of pressure at room temperature to the bottom of ridge vent 10. FIG. 8A shows an example of a foam tape 80 according to an embodiment. Foam tape 80 may have a top peel-off cover 82, and may additionally have a bottom peel-off cover 84 in the embodiment of a double sided tape. FIG. 8B shows a cross sectional view of another embodiment of ridge vent 10 with a stacked weather strip 86 under trough 56 wherein the stacked weather strip 86 is formed by multiple layers of foam tape 80 applied over each other. A tape made of foam or other appropriate material according to the illustrated embodiment provides added versatility since second or third layers may be applied over a first layer of tape to add thickness where needed, thus enabling flexibility in the use of the same ridge vent 10 for different buildings having different types of composition roofing material or shingles, or the same ridge vent 10 over very irregular surfaces within a single roof.

The embodiments described above thus provide improvements in the seal between the lateral sides of ridge vent 10 and the underlying shingles or composition roofing material 36. Thus, ridge vents according to embodiments of the invention can be nailed from the topside of the ridge vent while ensuring a secure seal at the sides of the ridge vent. Accordingly, openings between the undersides of the troughs 56, 58 and the underlying shingles or composition roofing material 36 after installation of the ridge vents are significantly reduced, even in the case of a relatively highly textured roof surface.

Thus, ridge vents according to embodiments of the invention provide superior protection against the entry of wind-driven rain, insects, vermin, etc., and also improve the aesthetic qualities of the ridge vents along the entire ridge and the overlying capping shingles.

Whereas particular embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it is not to be so limited since it can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made within the full intended scope of the invention and without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims. 

1. A ridge vent for covering an opening at a ridge of a roof, comprising: an elongated panel with two opposed lateral edges; a pair of elongated sidewalls each extending downward from one of the lateral edges; a pair of elongated floor portions each extending outward from one of the sidewalls, each floor portion having an underside; and a sealant on the underside of at least a part of each floor portion to improve the seal between the floor portions and the roof.
 2. The ridge vent of claim 1, further comprising a pair of baffles each extending upward from one of the floor portions, each baffle combining with one of the sidewalls and one of the floor portions to form an elongated trough along one side of the panel.
 3. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the panel is laterally flexible.
 4. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein each sidewall has a plurality of ventilation openings.
 5. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises a high-density foam or sponge.
 6. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride, EPDM rubber, silicon, neoprene, vinyl, urethane, latex, neoprene, polyurethane, or a combination of the above.
 7. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the sealant is thermally adhered to the underside of the floor portion.
 8. The ridge vent of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive securing the sealant to the underside of the floor portion.
 9. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises a foam tape.
 10. The ridge vent of claim 2, wherein the sealant extends from an underside of one floor portion, across an underside of the panel, and to an underside of the other floor portion to further provide a screen over the ridge.
 11. The ridge vent of claim 2, wherein the sealant increases in thickness from a first edge proximate the sidewall to a second edge proximate the baffle.
 12. The ridge vent of claim 1, wherein the sealant has a thickness in the range of about 1/16 inch to about 2 inches.
 13. A ridge ventilation system comprising: a plurality of elongated ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end over an open ridge of a roof, each of said ridge vent sections having: a laterally flexible panel having two opposed lateral edges and two opposed ends; a pair of sidewalls extending downward from each respective lateral edge; a pair of floor portions extending outward from each respective sidewall, each floor portion having an underside; a pair of baffles extending upward from each respective floor portion; and a weather strip on the underside of at least a part of each floor portion to improve the seal between the floor portions and the roof.
 14. The ridge ventilation system of claim 13, wherein each weather strip extends from one of the sidewalls to one of the baffles.
 15. The ridge ventilation system of claim 13, wherein each weather strip extends from an underside of one floor portion, across an underside of the panel, and to an underside of the other floor portion to further provide a screen over the ridge.
 16. The ridge vent of claim 13, wherein the weather strip increases in thickness from a first edge to a second edge, along the underside of the floor portion.
 17. The ridge ventilation system of claim 13, wherein the weather strip comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride, EPDM rubber, silicon, neoprene, vinyl, urethane, latex, neoprene, polyurethane, or a combination of the above.
 18. The ridge vent of claim 13, wherein the weather strip is thermally adhered to the underside of the floor portion.
 19. The ridge vent of claim 13, further comprising an adhesive securing the weather strip to the underside of the floor portion.
 20. The ridge vent of claim 13 wherein the weather strip comprises a foam tape. 